The remarkable sense of claustrophobic pressure in the piece lends a feeling that this is in some ways a soundtrack for a slaying myth
The remarkable sense of claustrophobic pressure in the piece lends a feeling that this is in some ways a soundtrack for a slaying myth
Thighpaulsandra – The Lepore Extrusion.
As many of our long suffering readers will be aware, I have often praised Thighpaulsandra for his work with both Julian Cope (especially the mighty collaboration which resulted in the Queen Elizabeth LPs) and Spiritualised. And lo! Here we are praising one of his solo LPs.
How to describe it? More low-key than anything even on Queen Elizabeth, The Leopore Extrusion is best described as a spectral piece; and in many ways more a much more unnerving listen than some of his more up tempo and confrontational works. It pulls off the difficult trick of being thoroughly meditational in spirit, whilst never once relinquishing a sense of tension and disquiet. This static, monolithic unease manages to thoroughly pervade the recording; augmented by the odd flourish (mainly a noise that sounds like a drugged cymbal) which, I suppose, reminds the listener of the passage of time. Let me tell you now, this is not a work that encourages active listening.
The remarkable sense of claustrophobic pressure in the piece lends a feeling that this is in some ways a soundtrack for a slaying myth (such as for the Gorgon or the Minotaur). The only release is near the end, where a beautiful synth flourish signifies that the otherworldly and sometimes discomforting dream is about to finish.
Remorselessly avant-garde, bloody difficult at times, but highly recommended nonetheless.
Words: Richard Foster.